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Holistic Health Strategies Traditional Medicine

Holistic Health Strategies Traditional Medicine. Dr. Aidah Alkaissi An- Najah National University Faculty of Nursing. Traditional medicine.

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Holistic Health Strategies Traditional Medicine

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  1. Holistic Health StrategiesTraditional Medicine Dr. AidahAlkaissi An-Najah National University Faculty of Nursing

  2. Traditional medicine • The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has provided strong support for traditional medicine and in many ways the Region is in a position to take a global lead in ensuring the safe and effective practice of traditional medicine. • The Regional Office has therefore prepared a draft regional strategy for traditional medicine in the Western Pacific. • The Regional Committee is asked to discuss and endorse the draft regional strategy for traditional medicine.

  3. there is evidence that in several countries and areas 40% to 60% of the population uses traditional medicine. • Traditional medicine also plays an important economic role in many countries. • There has been increasing academic and industrial involvement in traditional medicine during the last decade.

  4. To meet demands from the public, governments of the Region have recently paid more attention to traditional medicine and to the possibility of bringing the practice of traditional medicine into mainstream health service systems.

  5. The regional strategy identifies seven strategicobjectives for the period 2001-2010: • To develop a national policy for traditional medicine; • To promote public awareness of and access to traditional medicine; • To evaluate the economic potential of traditional medicine; • To establish appropriate standards for traditional medicine;

  6. To encourage and strengthen research into evidence-based practice of traditional medicine; • To foster respect for the cultural integrity of traditional medicine; • To formulate policies on the protection and conservation of health resources.

  7. DRAFT REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE • Traditional medicine is the knowledge, skills and practice of holistic health care, recognized and accepted for its role in the maintenance of health and the treatment of diseases. • It is based on Indigenous (originating where it is found) theories, beliefs and experiences that are handed down from generation to generation.

  8. DRAFT REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE • In the West, the umbrella term complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely accepted as including both traditional medicine and more recent forms of non-standard medicine. • A recent modification of the well-known Cochrane definition described CAM as including: "all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being.

  9. DRAFT REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE • WHO will work with countries: • to ensure the safe and effective use of traditional medicine of an acceptable quality; and • to promote the recognition of traditional medicine and to support its integration into mainstream health services.

  10. DRAFT REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE • Traditional medicine has an established promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative role. • It can be the main form of health care, or an integrated component of mainstream health care, or an alternative or complement to the main form of health care.

  11. DRAFT REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE • The WHO Regional Committee has adopted two resolutions, • WPR/RC36.R6 in 1985 and the WPR/RC38.R16 in 1987, recognizing that traditional medicine practices, particularly herbal medicine and acupuncture, constitute appropriate health practices that can be integrated into national health strategies.

  12. DRAFT REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE • Countries are encouraged to identify how far traditional medicine has been recognized and integrated into mainstream health services. • The formulation of strategic goals, action plans and time frames depends on the level of recognition and integration in each country.

  13. many traditional systems of medicine share common characteristics, including: • The belief that life is the union of body, emotions, mind and soul or spirit, and that health is a state of balance of several opposing aspects within the human body as well as between the human body and the environment. • Illness occurs when an individual falls out of balance, physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually.

  14. many traditional systems of medicine share common characteristics, including: • Traditional medicine applies a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment. • It considers a person in his or her totality within an ecological context and usually will not simply look after the sick part of the body. • As well as providing treatment, practitioners of traditional medicine often give advice on lifestyles and healthy behaviour.

  15. many traditional systems of medicine share common characteristics, including: • Traditional medicine is based on the needs of individuals. • Different people may receive different treatment even if they suffer from the same disease according to modern medicine. • Traditional medicine believes that each individual has his or her own constitution and social circumstances which result in different reactions to the “causes of diseases” and treatment.

  16. many traditional systems of medicine share common characteristics, including: • Traditional Chinese medicine originated in China and was introduced to neighbouring countries, such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam and others, which then developed their own variations. • Traditional Indian medicine is another well developed traditional system of medicine that is practised in parts of the Region, for example Malaysia.

  17. Utilization patterns • Different reasons bring consumers to traditional medicine. Cultural beliefs may still be the major reason for using traditional medicine. • people living in rural and remote areas in developing countries often seek first line health service from traditional systems of medicine because they are the only available and affordable form of health care.

  18. Utilization patterns • Some patients may go to traditional medicine after unsatisfactory treatment from modern medicine. • In all these cases, the effectiveness of traditional medicine and consumer satisfaction with services plays an important role in maintaining and increasing public interest in traditional medicine.

  19. Utilization patterns • In some countries, traditional medicine is practised not only at the primary health care level but also in hospitals providing secondary and tertiary care. • In other countries, traditional medicine is used mainly as family and community-based practice.

  20. Need for an evidence-based approach • Demands from the public have led to increasing involvement in traditional medicine by the scientific community. Many medical doctors have begun to use traditional remedies and techniques in their daily practice. • Universities and medical schoolsoffer full-time degree courses or short introductory courses on traditional medicine.

  21. Need for an evidence-based approach • Engaged in research on traditional medicine. Some researchers are attempting to evaluate the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine, while others are engaged in research into new drugs and other products derived from plants.

  22. Need for an evidence-based approach • An evidence-based approach to traditional medicine will be an important step towards in harmonizing traditional and modern medicine and enabling the two systems to work effectively side by side.

  23. Support for the appropriate use of traditional medicine should be encouraged by targetingdifferent sectors • The health care policy-maker should target efforts at counterparts in other policy areas such as social welfare and finance. Such advocacy could be in the form of: • health education activities targeting different levels of the government; • health education activities targeting members of the community; • media briefings.

  24. Support for the appropriate use of traditional medicine should be encouraged by targetingdifferent sectors • Members of the community, including end-users, traditional medicine practitioners and industries, should solicit public support for an explicit policy on the promotion of traditional medicine. • Government policies on traditional medicine should be put in place.

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